Don’t Buy the Gregory Baltoro 70 Backpacking Pack Before You Read This!
Gregory Baltoro 70 Backpacking Pack Review
Overall rating: 
Not a few owners and experts have described the Gregory Baltoro 70 Backpacking Pack as a lifesaver.
Indeed, there can be fewer mishaps as serious as having your backpack fall apart on you while in the middle of a weeklong trek in rugged backcountry.
But as review after review will attest, the Gregory Baltoro 70 has been used, abused, and put through the most tortuous phases in all terrains – from desert, to forests, to canyon portages, to alpine heights – and in any weather, and it’s come through with flying colors every time.
Simply the best
This backpack simply ranks among the best and makes lugging a 50-pund load over long stretches seem like a stroll in the park.
Pick any review at random and you’ll see these words popping up over and over again:
- Easy to load
- Comfortable
- Adjustable
- Large capacity
- Sturdy, durable
- Ample padding
And that’s just for starters.
Of course, pivoting hip belts are not exclusive to Gregory backpacks. But with Gregory’s double pivot system, each side of the belt works independent of the other to keep your load centered and relieving the strain on your hips. It even allows you to maintain your center while bending because it can pivot forward. The stability and support it offers make this the ideal pack for trekkers and climbers with hip and lower back problems.
No wonder it was picked 2008 Editor’s Choice by Backpacker’s magazine and described as the best overall backpack, and why a couple of years after, it still reigns as one of the most popular pieces of hiking and camping gear in the market and looks to be so for some time to come.
Outstanding features
Here’s a sampling of what makes the Gregory Baltoro 70 Backpacking Pack so awesome:
- Extremely durable 210-denier Double Diamond Ripstop nylon body
- 7001-T6 aluminum stay in a molded composite framesheet for heavy loads
- Crossover compression straps and side panels lend superb stability
- Response Active Fit Suspension™ pivot system automatically adjusts to hip angle and mirrors body movement
- Ample and large capacity side stretch, dual waistbelt, top lid and front pockets give more and easily accessible storage for compass, raingear, maps and other essentials
- Waterproof bottom
- Three-way zippered access to the main compartment – top, front and bottom – for convenient access and organization
- Reservoir sleeves with drunk-tube ports for mobile hydration
Oh, and did we mention a lifetime guarantee? Of course it’s a Gregory, that’s goes without saying. And, as most field testers, experts and owners will tell you, it isn’t a warranty you are even likely to use.
The downside
Be that as it may, there are some who found the Gregory Baltoro 70 Backpacking Pack less than deserving. And so, the cons:
- Easily breakable parts
- Restrictive
- Heavy and bulky
- Lack of versatility
- Small belt pockets
- Zippers snag easily
So, okay, nothing is really perfect.
But when push comes to shove, the ayes far outnumber the nays and it is hard to beat Backpackers’ seal of approval. So, when you’re looking at a new backpack that will give you years of happy trails, there really are few choices better than the Gregory Baltoro 70 Backpacking Pack.
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